Good morning together,as you lern always something new in flightsimming I spent now enough time flying with my present knowledge, and I think its time to lern something new on this beautiful sunday ;-)can anybody tell me are ther anywhere some good tutorials for learning- how to read approach, landing, takeoff, sids&stars charts the rigt way.- how to perform a VOR/NDB approach the right way.some things in the flight charts a quite self explaining, but some things are still a mystery for me. ;-) the same at a VOR/NDB approach. I can make an ILS with STARS and transitions and stuff like that, but what exactly is a VOR or NDB approach are also still something strange for me. btw: what kind of approache types exist? I know ILS, visual, VOR, NDB (?). are there still some more?thanks for the help, and a pleasant sunday to everyone ;-)nicolas reichPS: sorry for some maybe existing language mistakes, english is not my first language.

Nicolas I recommend you view this gent's tutorial series on reading charts. It is what Vatsim uses to train and reference are controllers! Hope it helps:

There are all four parts; I am aware that this for the US. It will still give you a basic understanding.

A bit of an expensive way but Angle of attack (depending on what plane you fly) teaches you all kinds of different approaches involving the use of charts + you learn a lot of other stuff as well. Just an exellent piece of software.

Here's a good resource for understanding charts:http://thecfiguy.com/instrument/briefing/From gate to gate, there are:Taxi: Gate charts, Taxiway diagramsTakeoff: Standard Instrument Departures (SIDs), obstacle departure procedures, textual departure proceduresEnroute (cruise): Low enroute, high enrouteArrival: Standard Terminal Arrival RoutesApproach: Instrument approach procedures (RNAV, GPS, ILS, LOC, LDA, VOR, NDB, and so on)Taxi: (see above)

Look at this site by a former corporate pilot and CFII:http://www.stoenworks.com/Aviation%20home%20page.htmlNot aircraft specific but the procedures are there. Scroll down that page and open the specific types.http://www.faa.gov/library/manuals/aviation/ is online FAA publications. This one "Instrument Flying Handbook" is more generic in nature. This one "Instrument Procedures Handbook" covers more of medium to larger airport and aircraft procedures. These two are available in hardcopy:http://www.amazon.com/Instrument-Flying-Handbook-FAA-H-8083-15A-Revised/dp/1616083026/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1310324372&sr=1-1http://www.amazon.com/Instrument-Procedures-Handbook-FAA-H-8261-1A-Revised/dp/1616082712/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1310324462&sr=1-1I have an older edition of the first and a newer edition of the second. Note that both have been recently revised. Look at the sample pages and the indexes.If you want both then you can on Amazon shipping since it would be free over a $25 order. There would be some redundancy but each has its strengths. I think it is easier to get the well illustrated hard copy than collect all of the FAA online .pdfs for each manual. Look at each on the FAA site and see what you want. It is easier to order from amazon than the FAA.I see you are in Germany but the FAA is more and more adapting to ICAO standards and most of this information would apply. I know there is an amazon outlet in the UK:http://www.amazon.co.uk/Instrument-Handbook-FAA-H-8083-15a-Aviation-Administration/dp/1616083026/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1310325155&sr=8-4http://www.amazon.co.uk/Instrument-Procedures-Handbook-FAA-H-8261-1A-Handbooks/dp/156027686X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310325275&sr=8-1The hardcopy uk distribution appears to be the older versions but the kindle versions are updated and cost less if you have a Kindle.Be sure to look for a 2011 revision in the descriptions.I get on-line European charts from Eurocontrol with the free required registration:http://ead-website.ead-it.com/publicuser/public/pu/login.jspFAA on-line charts I get free from flightaware.com. Enter the FAA ICAO on the bottom left and choose Information. Click on the IFR charts tab and then you can download specific .pdfs or all in one bundled .pdf.

Another (old but) great website for learning all kind of navigation. It also explains the development back from the beginning of aviation to nowadays: http://www.navfltsm.addr.com/index.htm

Reading the charts is one thing, knowing how to fly it is entirely different skill.

Which is why you have to learn how to fly the aircraft first in order to meet ATC commands and the requirements of published procedures (charts).The Stroenworks site covers both - how to fly the aircraft including using instruments and how to navigate including VFR and IFR procedures.The FAA manuals to which I referred state clearly that the reader is assumed to know how to control the aircraft.

Reading the charts is one thing, knowing how to fly it is entirely different skill.